The 30-hour workweek. Promising or pipe dream?

There is currently huge interest in the 30-hour workweek in many workplaces . But is this just a pipe dream or could it actually lead to better results, happier workplaces and less stress?

In this video I talk to Lena Rübelmann and Juliana Wolfsberger who have written a masters thesis called “The 30-hour Workweek -A Promising Alternative for Knowledge Workers?” at Lund University School of Economics and Management about their findings. My favorite: Switching to a 30-hour workweek does not reduce output. People get as much work done as they did before, even though they work fewer hours.

If you want to know more, Juliana and Lena are happy to share their findings. You can reach them here:

Other companies are finding the same thing, including Toyota Center Gothenburg, who 12 years ago, went from a normal 40-hour work week to only working 30 hours a week – and found that employee happiness, productivity, customer satisfaction and profits all went up. At our2015 Happiness at Work Conference, CEO Martin Banck explains why they made that weird decision, how they did it in practice and what has happened since then:

One thought on “The 30-hour workweek. Promising or pipe dream?”

The idea that anyone who is not in a customer facing position or support service role needs to work a defined number of hours is anachronistic. As your examples show, by every measure we are all actually better off than when we are compelled to “fill time!” It would be far better to do away with ANY constraints and stipulate that, as long as people do what they are supposed to and to an agreed level, they can choose their own hours. The same applies to a lesser extent with their physical presence. Technology means this is no longer always necessary. and it is just the misguided sense of self-importance of management that demands this.